Why is my leopard gecko shaking, not eating, and having leg pain?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Reptile | Gecko | Female
I am a first time leopard gecko owner and I noticed her two front legs look like it is in pain and when she walks she is like shaking while walking and she hasn’t eaten in two days?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 27th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Daisy and including photos. Difficulty using front legs can possibly be due to a calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease. A review of husbandry and diet is recommended. If the problems persists, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on December 10th, 2017
If it is only occasionally, continue to monitor him/her. A nutritional deficiency is always a concern, especially in juveniles, but as long as the appetite is good this is not a concern. Be sure to supplement with a calcium/D3 at each feeding and a multivitamin several times a week. Repashy, HerptiVite and Rep-Cal w/D3 are all options. If the shaking/thumping worsens or if you see lethargy, lameness or swollen limbs/joints, then have the little one examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
I just purchased a baby leopard gecko from petco. I noticed it was the smallest of all of them and occasionally it will shake its legs individually like thumper... what could this be ? It eats really good!
If it is only occasionally, continue to monitor him/her. A nutritional deficiency is always a concern, especially in juveniles, but as long as the appetite is good this is not a concern. Be sure to supplement with a calcium/D3 at each feeding and a multivitamin several times a week. Repashy, HerptiVite and Rep-Cal w/D3 are all options. If the shaking/thumping worsens or if you see lethargy, lameness or swollen limbs/joints, then have the little one examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon is shaking quite a bit in its legs and I’m not sure whats wrong with him/her.
Thanks for reaching out about Ryuu and including photos. Shaking limbs is often and indication of metabolic bone disease, which is a calcium deficiency. A veterinary visit can evaluation diet and husbandry, as well as Ryuu. Crickets and mealworms are a poor diet, even if dusted with calcium. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My gecko has a bump on its leg and he can't move it looks like it swollen and i don't know what to do, I've been letting him stay on top of his rock and keeping the lamp on him, he won't move eat drink or poop,
He should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He may be suffering from MBD (metabolic bone disease). This is happens when not enough calcium is provided and can lead to broken bones or abnormal bone formation. He may need an injection of calcium as well as proper D3/calcium supplementation. Be sure to gut load prey for 24 hours prior to feeding Lazarus to maximize nutritional value. Check the temperature as well. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in reptiles. You can soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte to treat or prevent minor hydration. It will also warm him up if he is cold.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
my bearded dragon's hind legs stick straight out to the sides when he is trying to catch his food, right after he eats it his hind legs are raised up and shake a little bit and his tail sometimes sticks straight up and shakes and bends multiple times
Thanks for reaching out about Spike. Not sure it there is a good answer. A thought would be early metabolic disease or a neurologic condition (such as adenovirus) stimulated by eating. If this persists, a veterinary visit would be a good idea, for a physical examination and evaluation of husbandry/diet. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Mushu stopped eating mealworms one day suddenly, and wouldn’t eat for a few days. I had dusted his food a few times with calcium without d3 for the last month but not very much. The other day I got crickets and mushu had one, I got a silkworm but wo
Check the temps in the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in reptiles. Prey should be gut loaded for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. This can be done by feeding them a high protein baby cereal, tropical fish flakes and fresh fruits/vegetables. They should also be dusted with both a calcium supplement and a multivitamin powder. You can feed mealworms, but try to feed only freshly molted ones. They have less chitin and are less likely to cause impactions or constipation. Whatever you choose to feed (mealworms, crickets, dubia roaches, etc), be sure they are appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between the eyes. The limping is cause for concern and could indicate a degree of MBD. You would need to have Mushu physically examined, and maybe x-rayed, by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for diagnosis and treatment. While leopard geckos don't require UVB lighting, it may be a good idea to get one to promote gene
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hey i dropped my lepord gecko while i was standing and she started to seize out when i picked her back up. She laid her head down and closed her eyes like she was about to pass but she started to twitch again. She is in her tank and is now limping on
Keep her warm and as stress free as possible. If she continues to have seizures, she will need to be examined by your vet, an experienced herp vet or at the nearest veterinary ER. If the lameness persists or if her foot becomes swollen or bruised, she will need to have that examined as well for fractures or soft tissue injury.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My Mediterranean house gecko is not able to move his rear legs and I haven't seen feces in more than a week. He moves by dragging himself on his front legs and has been eating very little. I believe this is due to nutritional secondary hyperparathyro
Most house geckos are nocturnal and do not require UVA/UVB lighting, but it won't harm them. Ideally, Dartzilla should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. The paralysis may be compounded by constipation, especially since there has been no stool recently. Soak Dartzilla in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored Pedialyte for 15-20 minutes. This will provide warmth and hydration. Both can aid in digestion and promote GI motility. A gentle abdominal massage, front to back, during the soak may stimulate defecation. Offer appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between his eyes. Gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. You can use a quality fish flake or high protein baby cereal for this. Rep-Cal Herptivite and Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3 are the gold standards for vitamin and mineral supplementation. You can find them online or in the local Petco. Follow label
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I just bought my baby bearded dragon and he is stressed from moving and shedding so he has not been eating and today when I picked him up he seemed dead so I put him in water and he started spazzing out doing twist and stuff and now he will barely mo
Thanks for reaching out about Mushu. No sure if a definitive answer but hypocalcemia, parasitic enteritis, atadenovirus, are all possibilities. A veterinary visit is recommended. Check and correct husbandry and environmental temperatures should be up to 90-100 F. Offer water via a syringe to maintain hydration. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon I just got which is a month and 3 weeks old is having problems with back legs. I noticed her back legs wobble and shake, and seems unenergized. Anything I can do to help her ?
This may be due to nutritional deficiency or digestive issue (impaction impinging on nerves). If Medusa is defecating normally, it likely is not a digestion issue. If she is having difficulty defecating, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen during the soak to encourage defecation. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent impaction/constipation. Prey should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Check temperatures since low temps can affect appetite and digestion. A calcium deficiency is another possible cause. Juvenile beardies need more calcium and vitamin supplementation than adult beardies. Rep-Cal's Herptivite multivitamin powder and Calcium with D3 powder are the gold standards for supplements. Dust prey twice weekly with the multivitamin and 5 days per week with the calcium powder. As your beardies mature, they will requ
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I recently rescued a leopard gecko and I have some concerns (he was my sisters gecko). 1. He is not eating and has lost some weight. 2. His legs are bowing and I'm concerned he has MBD. Is there anything I can do to help him start eating again and tr
Hello. Sorry to hear Zorro is not well. Unfortunately when these guys stop eating from MBD it is hard to get them started again. It is recommended that you start force feed him some Oxbow Critical Care. https://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Carnivore-Care-Supplement-2-5-Ounce/dp/B006H38VZ0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1518202419&sr=8-6&keywords=oxbow+critical+care Here is a link to a video on how to force feed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mIJmeebvss Don't even offer any insects for now. Give it 5-7 days of force feeding before you try again. You should be dusting and gut-loading the insects before feeding. Calcium in a dish is not sufficient. Once you start getting some nutrition into him he should start eating on his own again. Be sure all his other husbandry is 100% correct (ie: lighting, temperature, etc). Here is a good care sheet. https://avianandexotic.com/care-sheets/reptiles/leopard-gecko/ Hope this helps. Best wishes!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Have A Vet Question?
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
